As 2024 draws to a close, fast-food chains have dropped a lot of limited-time desserts that lived up to the hype. And who could blame them? Many of these treats truly deserve the spotlight. From seasonal pie releases that make yearly returns to exciting cookie collaborations with your favorite celebrities, the dessert scene has never been more thrilling. Here’s a roundup of limited-time fast-food desserts that aren’t just worth the hype but also your hard-earned cash.
12. Cinnabon’s Peppermint Bon
Cinnabon’s classic cinnamon rolls in peppermint flavor? Yup, you’re getting all that with their new limited-time Peppermint Bon. It features the classic soft and buttery cinnamon roll topped with crushed peppermint candy. If you can’t get enough peppermint, you can also get their Peppermint Chillata shake to match your pastry.
Where to get: Cinnabon
Price: $7.89
Availability: Available
11. Potbelly’s S’mores Cookie
This was a National S’mores Day special, which makes it extra special and popular among fans, and it’s no wonder why. It is made out of Hershey’s Mini Kisses, marshmallows, and graham crackers mixed in cookie batter. This was offered as a free cookie deal during the food holiday itself.
User tifftaughtyouthat on TikTok said that she had one for the first time, and she immediately loved it. Potbelly even replied to her that, hopefully, they can see her again soon so she can have more of their s’mores cookie.
10. Burgerville’s Oregon Marionberry Sundae
Last July, Burgerville took over the season of Oregon’s Marionberries grown from Liepold Farms, and we could definitely see why! This comeback sundae that has been a seasonal menu for years features a creamy Umpqua Dairy Ice Cream or Cosmic Bliss Plant-Based Ice Cream, topped with Oregon Marionberries and coconut whipped cream. They’re not only delicious, but they are also healthy!
9. Cicis Pizza’s Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Roll
One of the popular limited-time treats in Cicis Pizza’s roll of buffets is the Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Roll. It’s the perfect fall flavor that captures all its flavors into one roll. This treat features pumpkin spice-infused icing with hints of cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg, all rolled into one cinnamon roll. They’re the perfect after-buffet treat after devouring all those pizzas.
8. Taco Bell’s MTN DEW Baja Blast Gelato
One of the most unique desserts of the year is Taco Bell’s MTN DEW Baja Blast Gelato. This was a test item but was finally released to more stores last September 3, 2024. While this treat may be weird to some of us, many did like the taste that’s been compared to mint-flavored ice cream. Many fans noted that it tastes exactly like the Taco Bell exclusive beverage with a refreshing lime flavor in it.
7. Dairy Queen’s French Silk Pie Blizzard
A fall favorite, Dairy Queen’s French Silk Pie Blizzard follows the lineup of the Pumpkin Pie Blizzard release, and we definitely know why! This bestselling treat features a blend of chocolate chunks, pie pieces, and cocoa fudge to resemble a French Silk Pie. It is finished off with a generous amount of whipped cream.
Facebook user Linda Walker recalled that she had the French Silk Pie Blizzard, and it was delicious. Since they were released alongside the Pumpkin Pie Blizzard, so Walker said that she would try them out next.
RELATED: Top 10 Secret Menu Desserts from Fast-Food Chains
6. McDonald’s Pumpkin-Creme Pie
Admit it; when you think of fall desserts, you immediately think of McDonald’s Pumpkin-Creme Pie. Why wouldn’t you? It’s a dessert packed with both pumpkin spice filling and sweet cream filling just to get the perfect balance. It’s the dessert that captures all the warm feeling of the autumn season. This treat was first released in 2011, and since then, it has become a hit among fans.
Where to get: McDonald’s
Price: $1.99
Availability: Available
5. Crumbl’s GUTS Cookie
This particular Crumbl cookie hit Livies (Olivia Rodrigo’s fans) by storm! This was released to promote Rodrigo’s US Guts tour. Getting inspiration from the aesthetics of Rodrigo’s 2024 tour, this cookie features two chilled purple vanilla cookies sandwiched in layers of triple-berry jam and a layer of vanilla buttercream. The cookie is decorated in colorful star sprinkles.
RELATED: 15 Iconic Fast Food Milkshakes Ranked by Flavor and Creativity
4. Wendy’s Under The Sea Frosty
Spongebob Squarepants celebrated their 25th anniversary this year, so Wendy’s collaborated with them for a special Krabby Patty meal. The Under The Sea Frosty is the dessert under the collaboration. It resembles Spongebob’s iconic pineapple house. It has a Vanilla Frosty base with swirls of Mango Pineapple puree. Spongebob fans definitely saw this one coming!
3. Rita’s Toffee Pumpkin Crunch
We saw a whole lot of pumpkin-flavored and pumpkin spice desserts, so different chains have added their different takes on the fall pumpkin trend. With Rita’s limited-time and seasonal Toffee Pumpkin Crunch, pumpkin and toffee are combined in a smooth vanilla frozen custard treat. It is mixed with pumpkin créme and topped with Almond Toffee Crunch.
RELATED: 15 McDonald’s Ice Cream Hacks You Must Try
2. Krispy Kreme’s Kit Kat Collection
If there’s one thing that Krispy Kreme fans miss, it’s the Kit Kat Collection! This fan-favorite collection has been brought back around two times this year — it’s not common for limited-time Krispy Kreme donuts to come back in a span of months so yes, this collection has got a pretty good hang among fans.
The Kit Kat Collection features three varieties of donuts to choose from:
- Kit Kat Crunch Doughnut – Features an Original Glazed doughnut base that is hand-dipped in Hershey’s Milk Chocolate icing. It is finished with chopped Kit Kat pieces and chocolate-flavored crispies.
- Kit Kat Cookie Dream Filled Doughnut – An unglazed doughnut filled with cookie dough flavored Kreme and hand-dipped in Hershey’s Milk Chocolate icing. It is then topped with chopped Kit Kat pieces and semi-sweet Hershey’s chips, all drizzled in cookie dough icing.
- Kit Kat Salted Caramel Brownie Doughnut – An Original Glazed doughnut topped with brownie batter-flavored buttercream, covered with chopped Kit Kat pieces and finished with salted caramel flavored ribbons.
1. Banana Pudding
The banana pudding craze took off this year, inspiring fast food chains and dessert spots like Crumbl, Chick-fil-A, Coldstone, and Pinkberry to join the trend. Banana pudding appeared in various forms, including desserts, shakes, ice cream, and coffee blends, making it one of the standout desserts of the year. Let’s check out all of the banana pudding releases that we got this year:
- Crumbl – It features vanilla pudding that’s filled to the brim, and it has vanilla wafers on top.
- Chick-fil-A – A banana pudding dessert with crispy vanilla wafers, fresh banana slices, and cream pudding. It also comes in two other variations: Banana Pudding Shake and Banana Pudding Frosted Coffee.
- Coldstone – The banana pudding comes in an ice cream form called Going Bananas for JELL-O Pudding Creation. It features mixes of JELL-O’s Banana Cream Pudding Ice Cream with Nilla Wafers, banana, and whipped topping.
- Pinkberry – This banana pudding release is a collaboration with Despicable Me 4, and it’s called the Mega Minion Banana Pudding froyo. It features a banana pudding-flavored yogurt blended with sliced bananas, sweet blueberries, and Mini Nila Wafers.
RELATED: 10 Viral Fast Food Moments You Must See
From The Club
Don’t you just love these dessert releases? We may have experienced the lows of 2024, but at least we have these desserts to make up for the most of it. My personal favorite would probably be the Krispy Kreme’s Kitkat collection, as it opened to me the possibility of trying out Krispy Kreme’s flavored doughnuts. I’m a huge Original Glazed fan, but after realizing that it isn’t to sweet as I’ve thought of it to be, I guess I can give the flavored ones another chance. Hopefully, they’ll be around next year, too, or better yet, make them a permanent part of the menu.